Serbia's student-led coalition wins parliamentary majority, faces immediate governance hurdles

The Students' List, a diverse and leaderless youth movement, secured a decisive victory in Serbia's parliamentary election, claiming 140 of the 250 seats in the new legislature. Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party will hold 104 seats. The state election commission released preliminary results on October 25, which are expected to stand final after a period of appeals and potential reruns at individual polling stations. Vucic conceded defeat approximately 90 minutes after the polls closed on Sunday.

The new government must be formed and sworn in before the end of the year, though the process may take several weeks. Serbia's election laws mandate a review period before the Parliament is officially inaugurated. Any substantial policy changes can only begin once a new executive branch takes office. The transition is further complicated by a separate presidential election required after Vucic resigned from that post last month to lead the parliamentary ticket.

Public frustration is evident in the streets of Belgrade. On Sunday, celebratory crowds stoned withdrawing police and dismantled a long-standing camp occupied by Vucic loyalists in a central park. On Monday evening, groups stormed the Informer television station, a pro-Vucic private broadcaster, and confronted editor-in-chief Dragan Vucicevic. Dijana Hrka, the mother of one of the 16 victims of the 2024 Novi Sad train station collapse, accused the editor of lying during the incident. Police cordons also guarded the Pink TV broadcaster on Monday.

The student movement has outlined an 11-point program focused on rooting out corruption, freeing the media, and establishing the rule of law. To achieve these goals, the new administration plans to overhaul the police force and judiciary. Specific promises include creating a police unit accountable to independent prosecutors, banning corrupt officials from public service, and reviewing major infrastructure projects from the previous administration. Media expert Snezana Milivojevic noted that while some state media have already shifted tone, private channels continued pro-Vucic programming immediately after the election, making media reform a sensitive priority.

Foreign policy remains a delicate issue for the new leadership. The student movement previously avoided divisive topics during protests, including Serbia's relationship with the European Union and Russia. Vucic had balanced between the two powers, partly stalling the EU accession process by refusing to join sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine war. Students' List officials have indicated that the policy on sanctions will not change, a stance that may disappoint supporters hoping for a stronger pivot toward the West. EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos spoke by phone with Ilija Srdanovic, the top candidate on the Students' List, and stated on social media that the EU is ready to support the new government's European path.

The new leadership must now convert these high expectations into institutional reality. The movement faces the task of managing a polarized public while navigating the bureaucratic steps required to form a cabinet and pass initial legislation.